Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Piers Dawes Filed Under: All posts Posted:
The key to reducing dementia and sensory loss in later years may lie in improving experiences in the earliest years, explains Piers Dawes. Dementia, hearing impairment and vision loss are amongst the most feared, most costly and difficult to treat problems in elderly people. One way of avoiding cognitive and sensory impairment in old age […]
By Anna Coleman Filed Under: All posts, Devo Posted:
There is a wealth of important knowledge to be gained from the devolution of health and social care services across Manchester, says Dr Anna Coleman. Whether national policymakers, other regions interested in pursuing similar devolution arrangements, or those actively involved in Devo Manc itself, there are a lot of people taking a very close interest […]
By Ilias Alami Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Is the world on the verge of a new financial crisis? Ilias Alami looks at the data and finds a precarious situation. While a variety of economic and financial indicators increasingly paint a bleak picture, the upcoming policy choices in developed countries will have far-reaching consequences for global financial stability. In the so-called developed countries, […]
By Douglas Bamford Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
IT has fundamentally changed how we work and spend our spare time. Recent and future developments can do the same for the tax system, argues Douglas Bamford. The ideal tax system would tax economic good fortune, subsidise those with poor fortune and improve economic incentives. These aims tend to conflict with one another, but I […]
By Chris Martin Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The Government should do more to support a genuinely sharing economy, suggests Chris Martin. The UK Government has adopted a very narrow commercial perspective on the emergence of the sharing economy. In doing so, it is overlooking the potential environmental and social benefits of sharing. These benefits might grow if digital technologies can be harnessed […]
By James Pattison Filed Under: All posts Posted:
On Wednesday, the House of Commons debated for ten hours about whether the UK should intervene in Syria against ISIS. Here James Pattison explores the ethics of their decision. Numerous MPs stood up and offered their impassioned views. But most of these were oddly unstructured and badly reasoned, and failed to take into account glaringly […]
By Simon Chin-Yee Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Change is inevitable, but climate change is damaging. Simon Chin-Yee argues that as the COP21 discussions continue in Paris, we must adapt to limit the damage being caused by climate change. Mark Twain once said: “I’m all for progress, its change I object to.” What is it about human nature that makes us averse to […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
Professor Francis Livens continues his search for objectivity in the nuclear debate. As I explained in my previous blog, I recently debated nuclear energy with some opponents. I was concerned about whether their arguments were honest and true, so took time out to investigate them. I have already looked at nuclear waste, here I will […]
By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: All posts Posted:
As the Paris COP21 negotiations continue, Kevin Anderson, who is in France for the conference, gives his views. Paris will witness frenetic discussion centred ostensibly on the long-established 2°C temperature threshold between ‘acceptable’ and ‘dangerous’ climate change. However, as a citizen concerned with the moral framing of climate change, I consider the 2°C increase above the […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
The case against nuclear power is weakened by simplistic arguments that don’t stand up to scrutiny, argues Professor Francis Livens. I was recently involved in a public debate on nuclear energy. One of my opponent’s arguments against nuclear power was that the UK has no way of dealing with its huge quantities of radioactive waste. […]